The Town FilesMarissa, Illinois
Village in St. Clair County · population 1,833 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,500
- Household income
- $54,814
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 42.9
Marissa is a village of 1,833 people in St. Clair County, Illinois. The median home is worth $99,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks quieter than 82% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Marissa ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Marissa is worth $99,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $54,814, which is more affordable than 74% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $702 a month. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marissa | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $702 | $960 |
| Median household income | $54,814 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Marissa
| People | Marissa | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Marissa
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F. About 45.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marissa since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 5, 1958 about 6.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 6, 2003.
Severe weather in St. Clair County since 1996
St. Clair County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| October 14, 2022 | Flood | DR-4676: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Clair County
St. Clair County had 89,981 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,001 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Marissa itself the ACS puts it at 14.2%.
Public schools in Marissa
2 public schools with 502 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marissa Elem School | PK-6 | 253 | 9.7 |
| Marissa Jr & Sr High School | 7-12 | 249 | 13.1 |
Towns near Marissa
- Tilden, IL5.4 mi · 750 people · home $70,300
- New Athens, IL7.3 mi · 1,955 people · home $116,300
- Sparta, IL7.9 mi · 4,095 people · home $111,200
- St. Libory, IL8.4 mi · 628 people · home $178,800
- Coulterville, IL10.1 mi · 834 people · home $82,300
- Red Bud, IL12.9 mi · 3,804 people · home $171,000
- Evansville, IL14.1 mi · 547 people · home $88,200
- Freeburg, IL15.3 mi · 4,582 people · home $241,200
Marissa questions
Is Marissa, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marissa scores better for retirees than 39% of Illinois towns and quieter than 82%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Marissa?
The median owner-occupied home in Marissa is valued at $99,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,814, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $702 a month.
What is the weather like in Marissa?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 21.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.6 inches of precipitation a year and 11.6 inches of snow.
Does Marissa get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marissa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 5, 1958. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)